There is some speculation that Apple will release Mountain Lion the following day. Last year Apple released Lion the day after the results announcement. Apple's CEO Tim Cook has stated that Mountain Lion will be released before the end of July.

Apple in a conference call with analysts on 24 April. The company reported a net profit of $11.6 billion on revenue of $39.2 billion for the quarter that ended 31 March, 2012. The share price closed at $610 a share on 25 April following the announcement. The previous day's close was $560.28.

During the 24 April call, Oppenheimer told analysts to expect revenue of $34 billion and earnings per share of $8.68 for the third quarter. That compares to revenue of $28.57 billion and earnings of $7.79 per share for the fiscal third quarter of 2011.

However, Apple's forecasted numbers are a sequential drop from the revenue and earnings the company reported for its second quarter. Oppenheimer said the company is expecting a sequential decline in iPhone sales, as Apple had ramped up inventory to meet pent-up demand. The lower entry price for the iPad 2 and a stronger US dollar were also factors in Apple's forecast.

Still, Oppenheimer and other Apple executives were bullish on the company's fortunes going forward. "We just reported the most amazing March quarter that Apple's ever had," Oppenheimer said. "We feel very good about our business and our product pipeline."